Veteran newsreader Michael Buerk, Coronation Street star Craig Charles and The Only Way Is Essex’s Gemma Collins have landed in Australia ahead of taking part in this year’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

The programme – which has its launch episode for the latest series on Sunday – is also expected to feature former Premier League footballer Jimmy Bullard and TV presenter Melanie Sykes.

Many of the stars have been pictured as they arrive at Brisbane airport to prepare for the popular ITV show which will see them tackling the usual challenges and Bushtucker Trials involving an array of nasties.

Buerk – who famously focused world attention on the famine in Ethiopia in 1984 with a series of reports for the BBC – will follow other news veterans such as Jan Leeming and Jennie Bond as a contestant in the jungle.

Raper Tinchy Stryder, who recently performed a track with the Chuckle Brothers, is also in line to take part despite recently admitting he has never even slept in a tent before.

Former ‘Allo, ‘Allo actress Vicki Michelle, motorcyclist Carl Fogarty and model Kendra Wilkinson – a US TV star and former girlfriend of Playboy boss Hugh Hefner – are also reported to have landed ahead of their appearances in the show, along with Irish model Nadia Forde.

ITV has refused to confirm the full line-up until all the contestants arrive.

Footballer Jimmy emerged as the early favourite today with bookmaker William Hill putting the former Wigan Athletic and Fulham midfielder at 9/4.

He is followed by Corrie star Craig at 6/1, while newsreader Michael is at 8/1 and models Kendra, Melanie and Nadia are all at 10/1.

Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly said: “Jimmy has been one of football’s biggest characters over the last 15 years and his antics are bound to keep the viewers entertained over the coming weeks.”